Westchester County transportation officials held a conference Friday to discuss ways to prevent the Bee-Line bus system from being taken over by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

The MTA proposed a plan to assume control over the county buses in an effort to cut costs and improve the quality of service. However, County Transportation Commissioner Larry Salley argues that the MTA's track record shows they typically spend more, not less.

"Our goal is to try to remove as much of the burden of funding the system from our taxpayers, which presently contribute about $30 million a year, and each year that figure goes up," Salley says.

About 55,000 riders rely on the Bee-Line bus system to get around the county every day, and some of them express little faith in the MTA.

"It's more organized than the buses in the city," says college student Melvin Riddick.

It will be up to state legislators in Albany to consider any proposed consolidation plan and ways to fund it. But assemblyman George Latimer (D) says he is not convinced the MTA could do a better job than the county.

"The county government will look at the deployment of buses, bus routes with a greater sensitivity to what individual residents want and need," he says.

For interviews from forum on Bee-Line bus system, go to your digital cable box and select iO Extra, Ch. 612.